Madison,
23
August
2019
|
05:00 AM
America/Chicago

Missouri agents band together for second year in a row to fight food insecurity

Summary

Donations from agents and staff across the Show Me State, and the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation’s matching gift program, help provide more than 128,000 meals for Missouri children in need.

Last year agent Karen Chaney of Cameron, Missouri talked with a customer and family friend about efforts to combat hunger, particularly among Missouri children, by supporting the state’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) Food Insecurity Day.

“I’m very active in our Cameron FFA chapter so I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact the FFA has and wanted to find out more,” Chaney said.

Joining with FFA to feed the hungry

That led to her reaching out to her colleague Mack Molloy in Carrollton and others for financial support and participation in the 2018 Drive to Feed Kids, an event sponsored by Missouri Farmers Care Foundation to address the issue of food insecurity.

Because of last year’s overwhelming response in raising money and taking part in the volunteer activity to pack meals during the Missouri State Fair, Chaney, Molloy and fellow agent Cara McClellan of Trenton took the lead for coordinating participation in the 2019 event.

Once again, agents and employees stepped up, with 78 donations totaling $11,815. With the American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation 1-to-1 matching gift program for 501 (c)(3) organizations, that total became $23,950.

Further, more than 700 FFA member kids participated in the volunteer activity at the state fair on August 13 with 10 agents, one agent spouse, two agency staff and 11 American Family employees during morning and afternoon sessions. The volunteers packed 128,460 meals, exceeding last year’s total as well as the goal set by Missouri Farmers Care. The meals will be distributed among six large food banks in Missouri.

Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn also joined the group to pack meals during the morning session.

Addressing food insecurity in Missouri

According to Missouri Farmers Care statistics, in rural Missouri as many as one in five people face food insecurity. Among children, the numbers are even higher, where in parts of the state one in three children face food insecurity on a regular basis.

American Family Insurance partners with the National FFA Organization. Chaney, Molloy and McClellan hope this event spurs more agents to work with local FFA advisers.

“The main focus of this event is feeding the hungry and raising awareness of the problem of food insecurity,” said Chaney. “But we also want to remember hundreds of FFA kids attend this event and take a day out of their summer to do something good. These are our future leaders – teachers, business owners, skilled laborers and more – and they’re learning they have the power to make positive changes in their communities.”

"As American Family agents and employees, we’re proud to support those efforts.”

Learn more about Missouri Farmers Care and the Drive to Feed Kids.

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About American Family Insurance
Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance group is the nation's 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group and ranks No. 306 on the Fortune 500 list. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, primarily through its exclusive agents in 19 states. American Family affiliates (The General and Homesite) also provide options for consumers who want to manage their insurance matters directly over the internet or by phone. Affiliate Main Street America sells insurance products through independent agents. Web: https://www.amfam.com/; Facebook www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter www.twitter.com/amfam